Trying to decide between a marlin cowboy rifle in 357 and 45 colt.Do either of the rifles have a leading problem?I prefer the 45 but have been hearing that because the marlin has a micro groove bbl it will lead the bbl.All my 45 colt loads are between 800 and 900 fps with a 250 lead bullet.Hope you cowboy shooters can help,there is a 45 cowboy in my favorite store right now for 490.

Bill Mitchell

January 22, 2001, 04:33 PM

Howdy,

All of the Marlin Cowboy models have Ballard rifling, not the micro-groove. I shoot a Marlin Cowboy in .45 , and it's an excellent rifle. The .357, like most .357 lever guns, are sensitive to overall cartridge length, which can lead to problems if you want to shoot .38 ammo. I paid $460 for mine 3 years ago, so $490 isn't too bad. If you decide on a .357, find one quick, ' cause Marlin just did a run of these, and they are being snatched up fast, since most distributors had been out for awhile.

Bellicose Bill

Ned Roundtree

January 22, 2001, 08:17 PM

Marlin Cowboy II in .357 here. All I have ever shot is .38 specials. Never had any feeding problems. It shoots everything I put in it. My two centavos.

Ned Roundtree

January 23, 2001, 08:04 AM

I forgot to add if you are planning on using the guns in Cowboy Action Matches, that I would keep my cowboy revolvers and lever action rifle in the same caliber. So, if your revolvers are in .45lc, I would get a rifle in 45lc. It is very handy and causes less confusion to keep them the same caliber.

Old Jules

January 23, 2001, 08:39 PM

My wife and I both shoot Marlin Cowboys in .45 colt. Great guns, deep rifling, shoots right where you point it. It's a good rifle to shoot black powder in as it is very easy to take down for cleaning. $490 is a good price.

Bill a.k.a. "Old Jules"

handgun357

January 25, 2001, 12:36 AM

I have a Rossi 357 mag lever action and have never had any feed problems with 357's or 38sp. And you can shoot 38sp reloads for cheap too. I load to about 700fps.

[Edited by handgun357 on 02-05-2001 at 06:02 PM]

Ned Roundtree

January 25, 2001, 09:59 AM

Yeah, I shot 45lc my first year. That winter I sold all my 45lc guns. Started spring with 38/357 guns. Shooting National Bullet .38 reloads at $69 per thousand. Plus they pack them in little boxes of fifty. Hey, doesn't take much to make me happy. :D